Oil clarifier



Nov- 3, 1936. C. E. JOHNSON ET AL 2,059,358

OIL CLARIFIER Filed June 25,

IN V EN TORS III www www C. E dward Joh/vaan. Henry 7T Moore.

A TTORNEYS.

lPrimal Nom-3, .1936

2,059,351; on. lcmim'rrlnx.

Clarence Edward Johnson, Easton, and Henry T.

' Moore, Drexel Hill, Pa.

Application y.time 23, 1934, serial 10.732,184 11A claims. (c1. 21o-131) The invention described herein is an improvement in the field of pressure clariers, and, as such, is believed to have its widest application in the purification of lubricating oils of automobile engines, aeroplane engines, Diesel engines, gasoline-electric engines and other internal combus- -for the cleaning of insulating oils, such as are tion engines, and has therefore been described in connection with the oil system of an internal combustion engine.

The invention is also well adapted to clariiiersy usedin electric power transformers and oil circuit breakers, and to other clariers, for example,

those for the purification of different types ofv motor oils, turbine oils, and-of gasoline as applied to the dry cleaning industry and the like.

'Ihe invention is directed to that type of pres-` sure clarifier in which the clarifying and filtering agent occupies an annular space intermediate laterally perforated concentric cylinders within an outside casing,'the liquid under purification, usually lubricating oil or gasoline, having inlet into the casing near the circumference thereof and filtering through the agent in a direction generally radially inward t6 the interior of the inner cylinder to find outlet therefromusually in a generally axial direction.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel pressure clarifier of the character indicated that will well meet the needs of service and be of a simple construction', rugged and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide for easy assembly and disassembly of the permanent and non-permanent members of a clarifier of the character indicated. f

We locate the inlet and outlet oil connections in a permanent bracket, and locate the clarifying and filtering agent in a refill unit, with a bolt and gasket connection between the bracket and refill units, whereby the refill part of the clarifier is readily changed without in the least disturbing the piping of the oil system in winch the e clarifier may be operating.

Another object is to clamp together the different elements of a refill portion of a clarifier of the character indicated by the same bolts that clamp the refill unit to the bracket.

Another object is to arrange theconnection between the permanent and rell porti'ns of a clarifier ofthe character indicated so that the connection can hema-de only when the-members are in their proper registry with one another.

Another object is to avoid oil channeling at the top of thelcharge'of clarifying material within an oil clarifier by downward baflles into the material or/'and downwardly presenting a roughened or indented surface thereto.

Another object is to totally enclose a. straight line relief valve in a head portion of a clarifier 5 of the character indicated, adapting the clarifierto' operate under constant oil pressure and the relief valve to be readily sealed from unauthorized access.

Another object is to AJlocate a throttle orice 10 in the oil'inlet to a clarifier of the character indicated, thereby preventing any excessive flow however that is practical and efficient in operation and which well illustrates the principles in volved.

- 20 Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation, taken on the line II of AFigure 3, of structure embodying a desirable form of our invention. r

Figure 2 is a left side elevation of Figure 3,

partly sectioned, and showing the head and refill g5 portions of the clarifier slightly separated.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the clarifier head, beingv a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2. A3u

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Figure 1 to enlarged scale, to-more clearly indi'- cate details thereof.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all gures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation 35 Y i and referring to the drawing.

The clarifier comprises permanent and rell unitsJil and II. respectively, with an intermedi-l ategasket I2, the two units being removably clamped together upon the intermediate gasket 4b by bolts I3 and nuts I4.

The permanent member I0 carries a ange I5 y by which it may befastened at I6 to stationary frame structure I'l of an internal combustion engine or the like and is connected at its oil in- 45 let fitting I3 and oil outlet tting I9 into 'a pipe line 20 carrying the circulating oil of the engine. The permanent unit or head l0 is here shown as an integral casting, upwardly recessed on the bottom at 2l to t the top of the refill unit il, 50

with perforations 22 to pass stud bolts i3, and presents a downwardly directed cup 23 over the open end of an oil receiving well 2t of the rell unit, the cup 23 forming an outlet compartment of the head. Y'

The bolt perforations in the head l0 are enlarged at 25 to receive nuts 26 on the stud bolts I3.

The head I0 is radially bored at 21 and 28 into the outlet compartment to provide the inlet and outlet passages thereof respectively from and to the fittings I8 and I9.

The inlet bore 21 is extended through the one wall of the inverted cup and counterbored to receive an adjustable spring relief valve 29 (here shown as a ball) the spring of which valve is supported against the inner end of a tubular plug 30 adapted to be adjusted by the aid of a screw driver when the plug 3|, directly in line with the tubular plug 30, normally closing the outer end of the counterbore, has been removed.

If desired the plug 3I may be permanently closed after the relief valve has been set to its ybest positionand to prevent unauthorized adjustments thereof.

A downward branch bore 32 from the bore 21 presents its lowersend to the inlet port 33 of the refill unit.

We usually prefer to insert a throttling plug 34 in the inlet passage of the head, to suitably limit the flow of oil to the clarifier, the size of the throttle orifice in this plug being selected to best suit the intended service conditions to be met by the clarifier.

This throttling plug may obviously be omitted if the intended service conditions make its presence unnecessary or undesirable.

'I'he refill unit II includes outer and inner cylindrical containers 35 and 36, the oil well 24 and oil clarifying material intermediate the perforated Walls of the well and inner container, the inner container being perforated at 361 and the oil well being perforated at 24'.

The well is suitably an integral casting with a top flange 31 of size to loosely t the interior of the inner container, and with its inner or downward side provided with bosses 311 and downward concentric flanges 312 and 313. The bosses 311 interconnected by successive portions of the flange 312 are drilled and tapped to receive the inner ends of the studs I3. These studs are suitably-threaded throughout their lengths to permit longitudinal adjustment of the studs. The entire under surface of the ange 31 is roughened or indented as with punch markings 314 for the purpose of lessening channeling of oil flowing inwardly at this surface to the well.

The top of the rell unit includes the head 38 of the outer container, a. spacer plate 39, the top 4I) of the inner container and preferably intermediate gaskets 4I, 42 and 43, all strongly clamped together between the heads and nuts 44 and 26 of the bolts I3, with spring and gasket washers under the nuts.

The spacer plate 39 is outwardly slotted at 46 to provide an oil passage from the inlet port 33 to the annular space 41 between the inner and outer containers.

In manufacture the top members of the refill unit are clamped together as above, initially without the outer container except its head 38 and without the bottom 43 of the inner container, so that the partially assembled unit comprises at this time an annular cup open at 48'. l

The well 24 is preferably provided with a sheath' 43 suitably of canton flannel, and the perforated cylindrical wall of the inner compartment is preferably lined with a moisture absorbent wadding 59 (suitably cellucotton) with an inner layer 5I (suitably blotting paper).

The annular space between the sheath 49 of the oil well and the inner lining layer 5I of the inner compartment is now filled with the selected clarifying agent 52 which may suitably be fullers earth, after which the bottom 48 of the inner con- 5 miner and themain body of the outer container are successively fastened to place, as by soldering at 53 and seaming and soldering at 54.

Safety screens, of ne wire mesh, are indicated at 55 and 56, respectively at the central 10 opening of the spacer plate over the top of the oil well and across the bottom of the compartment 23 in the permanent head I0.

In operation, the unclean oil, under the pressure (or suction which amounts to the same l5 thing) of an oil 'circulating system, enters the clarifier at the fitting I8, passes preferably through a restriction at the plug 34 or elsewhere, through the passages 32, 33 and 46 into the space 41 between the inner and outer con- 20 tainers.

The incoming oil is normallyhot, completely fills the space between the inner and outer containers and heats the materials within the inner container, making the operation of these ma- 25 terials more effective.

From the space between the containers the oil The downwardly extending flanges 312 and 313 40 and indentations at 311 over the under surface of the ange 31 all aid in wholly or nearly eliminating anyv channelling of the oil in its inward flow at -the under surface of the flange 31.

It will be understood that the sheath 49 serves 45 to prevent any ofthe clarifying agent 52 from being carried'into the well 24.

Any desired portion of the circulating oil, ac-

cording to the setting of the relief valve 29, may by-pass -the clarifying material, going by the relief valve and the tubular plug 30 directly to the outlet compartment 23 where it mixes with that portion of the circulating stream passing to and through the clarifying material.

It will be evident that the oil may be circulated in the reverse' direction from that described; more usually however this will result'in a shorter life of the refill member and is therefore usuallr less desirable. As the annular surface of clarifying agent is greatest near the outside of the lter, it is best to bring the impure oil from the outside inward, thus depositing the bulk of the impurities near the outside. too that ifthe direction of circulation is reversed there should be a corresponding reversal of the relief valve, as by seating the bali at the other end of the spring, that is at the end of the tubular plug 30.

It will be seen that we assure proper registry between the permanent and refill meinbers by making one of the bolts I3, as at 51, andthe corresponding perforations therefor, larger-` than the others. not be assembled except in the right' way.

It will be evident In this way the two members can- In view of our invention and disclosure. variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubless become evident to others skilled in theart to obtain all or part of the benefits of our invention without copying the structure shown, and we therefore claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of .our invention.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

,1. In an oil clarifier, a supporting main head n having inlet and outlet channels for connection into a circulating oil system, the channels having downward openings respectively for outlet and inlet, a rell unit presenting inlet and outlet openings to the downward openings from the ,channels and including a well having a head.

agent in the annular space outside the well and inside the container, a casing surrounding the container having a head open'for outlet above the well and for inlet toward its circumference into the space between the casing and container, and means clamping thelhead flange and casing together upon the intermediate I container and removably clamping the rell unit to the main head.

2. In an oil clarier, a supporting main head having inlet and outlet channels for connection into a circulating oil "system, the channels having downward openings respectively for outlet and inlet, a refill unit presenting inlet and outlet openings to the downward openings from the channels and including a well having a head :flange Aand laterally perforate sides, a laterally perforate container outside the well and having a head open above the well, a clarifying agent in the annular space outside the well and inside the container, a casing surrounding the container upon the intermediate container head and spacer xplate and removably clamping the refill unit to the main head.V

3. In an oil clarifier. a supporting main head having inlet and outlet channels for connection into a circulating oil system, the channels having downward openings respectively for outlet and inlet, a refill unit presenting inlet and outlet openings to the downward openings from the channels and including a well having a head flange and laterally perforate sides, a ,laterally perforate container outside the well and having an upper end open above the well, a clarifying agent in the annular space outside the well and inside the container, a casing surrounding the container having a head open for outlet above the well and for inlet toward its circumference into the space between the casing and container, a plurality of bolts extending upwardly through the flange and the heads of the container and casing, nuts on the bolts cooperating therewith to cla-mp the ange and casing head together upon the intermediate container head, upwardly the bolts to removably clamp the refill unit to the main head'.

4. In an oil clarifier, a supporting main head having. inlet and outlet channels for connection into a circulating oil system, the channels having downward openings respectively forl outlet `flange and laterally perforate sides, a laterally' perforate container outside the well and having an upper end open above the well, a clarifying agent in the annular space outside the well and inside the container, a casing surrounding the crmtainerl having a head open for outlet above the well andfor inlet toward its circumference, a spacer plate between the container head and the casing head, said plate having openings registering with-the openings of the casing head with the outer opening extending to the annular space between the casing and container, a plurality of bolts extending upwardly through the flange, the container head, plate and casing head, nuts on the bolts cooperating therewith to clamp the ange and casing. head together upon the 'intermediate container head and plate, upwardfill unit to the main head. i

5. In a recu unit for an 011 clarifier, a weil A having a head fiange and laterallyperforate sides, a laterally perforate cylindrical container surrounding .the well, open at-the bottom and having a top open above the well, clarifying material in the space between the cylindrical container and the well, a bottom for-the cylindrical container,

a casingv head above and outwardly overlapping the container, said head having an opening above the well and a second opening into the space outwardly overlapping the container, a,k casing surrounding the cylindrical container and secured to the head, and bolts and nuts clamping the iiange and head together upon the intermediate top and presenting upwardly extending bodies for removably clamping the unit to a main head to support the unit and to be connected into a circulating oil system.

6. In an oil clarifier, a supporting head having inlet and outlet passages Jand a removable refill unit to receive unclariiied oil from the headinlet channel and .discharge the clarified oil into the head outlet channel, the said unit consisting of an outside container, a laterally perforated inside container, an absorbent cle-moisturizing wall, a porous protective liner there adjacent, a central laterally perforate well, a cloth sheath about the well, fuller's earth in the annular space int-ermediate the liner and sheath, a flange on the well about the top thereof and a clamping connection between thejangeand supporting head.

sition, with gasket between the body and head to complete the union between them.

8. In an oil clarifier, a head, and a re'llunit consisting of an outside container, an inner laterally perforated container inwardly spaced from and surroundedby the outside container, walls forming an inlet opening'to the space between the containers, an absorbent wadding de-moisturizing material within the inner container, a porous protective liner inwardly covering the demoisturizing material., clarifying clay inwardly of the liner, a laterally permeable outlet well within the clay and walls forming an outlet opening from the outlet well.

9. In an oil clarier, a head and a refill unit, there being cooperating oil flow openings between the head andv refill unit, the unit having an outer container, an outer container head, having inlet port toward its circumference, an inner container, an oil clarifying material in the inner container, an inner container head, a spacer reinforcement plate between the heads and gaskets between the plate and heads, and the plate' being recessed at one side to provide an oil channel from the said inlet port.

1U. In an oil clariiler, an outer container having .inlet and outlet passages, a laterally perforated well, inside the outer container and open to the said outlet passage thereof, a perforated annular second container surrounding and outwardly spaced from the well, oil clarifying material between the well and the container, walls forming a surface extending above and in contact with the oil clarifying material from the well to the second container and bailles extending into the material from the surface and impeding radial fiow between the second container and the well along the surface, the said inlet passage of the outer container being to the interior portion thereof outside the said second container. l

11. In an oil clarifier, an outer container having inlet and outlet passages, a generally vertical laterally perforated well inside the outer container and open to the said outlet passage thereof, a flange connected to the well at its upper end and extending radially, said flange having an .ir-l

regular lower surface to prevent channelling, a laterally perforated second container surrounding and laterally spaced from the well and extending up to the flange and oil clarifying material in the space between the well and the second container and in contact with the irregular lower lsurface of the flange,v the said inlet passage of the outer conl tainer being to the interior portion thereof outside the said second container( CLARENCE EDWARD JOHNSON. HENRY T. MOORE. 

